As discussed a couple of weeks ago in this blog (here), cycling has long been understood as a super-efficient mode of transport. So it is no surprise that in recent years urban planners have turned to bicycle-sharing schemes as they try to enhance sustainability and livability in their cities. According to urban mobility advisor Peter Midgley, “bike sharing has experienced the fastest growth of an...

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I once read that a human being on a bicycle is the most efficient means by which any animal has ever moved through space. Indeed, it is a claim often made. Forty years ago Ivan Illich wrote that:
“The bicycle is the perfect transducer to match man’s metabolic energy to the impedance of locomotion. Equipped with this tool, man outstrips the efficiency of not only all machines but all other animals as well.” (Energy and Equity, 1974)
Although the efficiency of cycling is well accepted, efficiency can mean many things. In the physical sciences it is often narrowly defined as a “measure of e...

As I sail through the English Channel and complete my last miles around the world on a reefer vessel, accompanying 5000 tons of kiwifruit on their way from New Zealand to Europe, let me share some thoughts I've had during the past few weeks on the sustainability of this transport mode.
To start with, here are a few answers to the most common questions. Yes, today's cargo ships employ engine technology that emits horrible amounts of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particulates. However, putting these emissions in perspective with each item transported, ships are more energ...

Fancy pictures of green stadiums have been fast to hit the media since FIFA's decision to give the 2022 soccer World Cup to Qatar was published. FIFA also announced that Brazil (2014), Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022) will have to satisfy green building certificate requirements when putting up new stadiums. Looking at the carbon footprint of South Africa's 2010 World Cup, however, you learn that the stadiums only accounted for 1.1 percent of the event's carbon footprint (0.6% for construction and renovation, 0.5% for energy use during the event). Hence, it is clear that better stadium design wil...

The city of Seattle recently announced a new goal for 2050: Achieving complete carbon neutrality. What measures are taken? What other efforts are made globally, in order to achieve the objective of a 100% climate neutral city? In this article, I shed light on the initiatives towards a new, climate friendly urbanity.
Seattle: 90% Greenhouse Gas Reduction in 2050
First of all, let's look at Seattle's definition of "carbon free". The city aims for a 90% reduction in greenhouse gases in 2050, compared to 2008 levels. Following a gradual approach to the timetable, we can expect a step by step red...